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Neurofeedback Training for Tourette Syndrome: An Uncontrolled Single Case Study

Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback volume 36, pages 281–288 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS) is characterized by motor and vocal tic manifestations, often accompanied by behavioral, cognitive and affective dysfunctions. Electroencephalography of patients with TS has revealed reduced Sensorimotor Rhythm (SMR) and excessive fronto-central Theta activity, that presumably underlie motor and cognitive disturbances in TS. Some evidence exists that neurofeedback (NFB) training aimed at enhancing SMR amplitude is effective for reducing tics. The present report is an uncontrolled single case study where a NFB training protocol, involving combined SMR uptraining/Theta downtraining was delivered to a 17-year-old male with TS. After sixteen SMR-Theta sessions, six additional sessions were administered with SMR uptraining alone. SMR increase was better obtained when SMR uptraining was administered alone, whereas Theta decrease was observed after both trainings. The patient showed a reduction of tics and affective symptoms, and improvement of cognitive performance after both trainings. Overall, these findings suggest that Theta decrease might account for some clinical effects seen in conjunction with SMR uptraining. Future studies should clarify the feasibility of NFB protocols for patients with TS beyond SMR uptraining alone.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Luca Righetto for his technical support during data recording and analysis, and Michele De Matthaeis for his help during data collection and analysis.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia, 8, 35131, Padova, Italy

    Simone Messerotti Benvenuti, Giulia Buodo & Daniela Palomba

  2. Interdepartmental Laboratories for Applied and Clinical Psychological Research (L.I.Ri.P.A.C.), University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Valentino Leone

Authors
  1. Simone Messerotti Benvenuti
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  2. Giulia Buodo
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  3. Valentino Leone
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  4. Daniela Palomba
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Correspondence to Simone Messerotti Benvenuti.

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Messerotti Benvenuti, S., Buodo, G., Leone, V. et al. Neurofeedback Training for Tourette Syndrome: An Uncontrolled Single Case Study. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 36, 281–288 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-011-9169-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-011-9169-7

Keywords

  • Gilles de la Tourette
  • QEEG
  • Neurofeedback
  • SMR
  • Theta